Lighting design for the office

Many employees spend around 8 hours at an office workstation. Good lighting is also a feel-good factor at work: it makes it possible to carry out any activity and has an impact on health.\ The lighting is also a representative and economic factor for the company. For over 20 years, the lighting designers at Lights.co.uk have been advising corporate customers on the ideal office lighting, taking into account all individual conditions and wishes.

Features of modern office lighting

Human Centric Lighting

Office luminaires use light with a high blue component to promote concentration and counteract fatigue. State-of-the-art HCL lighting systems also simulate natural daylight changes with their light colour. They therefore provide optimum support for productivity and health.

Task-related

Every office has changing work activities and locations. Lighting must take all these factors into account in order to optimise everyday office life. For example, the light at a desk has to fulfil different criteria than in a central meeting place for viewing design work.

Energy & cost efficiency

Profitability is a key factor for any company. Intelligent office lighting utilises efficient LED lighting technology. It also reacts to the presence of employees and the intensity of incident daylight using presence and twilight sensors.

Lights for the office

LED panel

floor lamps

desk lamps

Hanging Lights

Lighting quality in the office

Our experts at Lights.co.uk take the exact conditions on site into account when planning lighting to determine the optimum office lighting.

With regard to the room condition

we take into account, for example:

Incidence of daylight
Scattering of light over walls, Ceilings and floors
Ceiling height, niches, wall colours
Room zones that need to be enhanced with light
Progression of light and shadow in the room
Effect of light, Colours and materials on the atmosphere
National factors, because light\ is also a cultural issue

The space conditions provide solutions.

As far as the light selection is concerned, we include, among other things:

Lighting level and Luminance distribution
Limitation of direct glare
Limiting reflected glare on the screen and on other work equipment
Three-dimensional visibility through appropriate shading
Avoidance of disturbing shadows
Light colour and colour rendering Flicker-free

The selection of luminaires fulfils all requirements.

People at the centre

The research study "Perceived lighting quality in the office" by Zumtobel and the Fraunhofer Institute shows what is important to employees in everyday office life.\ Our lighting design always places a high priority on the employee.

Brighter than the norm

The standards recommend illuminance levels of around 500 lux. However, the study shows that employees prefer illuminance levels above 800 lux.

Artificial light even in summer

The study shows that artificial light is often used for more than six hours, not only on winter days but also in summer.

Adjustable lighting

Individually dimmable and colour-changing artificial light increases well-being and therefore productivity and creativity.

Direct/indirect light

Direct/indirect light is easier on the eyes thanks to reduced brightness contrasts and offers the best lighting conditions - as employees also feel.

Types of offices

Not all offices are the same. Our lighting designers will put together various solutions for your individual premises for you to choose from. Which lighting systems are used also always depends on the legal requirements.

Single office

Floor area 10 to 50 m²
For 1 to 2 persons
Generally high proportion of daylight

The artificial lighting is used temporarily. Luminaires parallel to the window, e.g. pendant luminaires, are recommended.

Group office

Floor area 50 to 300 m²
For up to 25 people
Generally only in areas close to windows Zones naturally exposed

The flexible desk groups are illuminated by mobile lighting systems such as office floor lamps. Added to this is room-orientated ambient lighting, e.g. with LED panels.

Open-plan office

Floor space from 400 to 1,200 m²
For up to 100 people
Generally requires permanent artificial lighting

The artificial lighting is used temporarily. Luminaires parallel to the window, e.g. pendant luminaires, are recommended.

Workplace regulations for lighting

The DIN EN 12464 regulation and ASR 7/3 provide precise information on illuminance at the workplace.\ The Workplace Directive stipulates an illuminance level of 500 lux for a conventional office workstation. We take these and other specific requirements into account in our lighting design. Find out more about optimum lighting in the workplace here.

Zoning and additional areas

Not only the office itself and its various lighting zones, but all the rooms belonging to the complex must be attractively and functionally lit. Our lighting designers dedicate themselves to your small or large lighting project and use a comprehensive zoning concept to determine which areas have special lighting requirements beyond the actual workplace.

Entrance area

At the reception desk, the lighting focusses on creating a good first impression, inviting and glare-free light, as well as optimum visual conditions for employees.

Hallway

Functional luminaires ensure optimum visual conditions in corridors. Targeted use of accent lighting provides variety, for example to aesthetically emphasise objects.

Conference room

Uniform, bright light has a representative effect and is essential for intensive dialogue in the meeting room. If accessories such as a projector are used, dimmable lighting is mandatory.

Cafeteria

In contrast to the work area, warm white, cosy lighting is recommended for the cafeteria. Food also looks more appealing in this light.

Perfect lighting design under economic aspects

Making optimum use of daylight

Smart sun shading devices such as roller shutters and blinds regulate the amount of daylight entering the room, reducing heat build-up and preventing glare. At the same time, however, daylight is optimally channelled into the room.

Save operating costs

Intelligent presence detectors switch the lighting according to presence. In addition, twilight sensors detect the incidence of daylight. This allows the light to be dimmed or switched as required.

Easier maintenance

A building-wide BUS system is used to check the functionality of the lights. In the event of failure, action can be taken without delay. It is also advisable to integrate the safety lighting.